I’ve seen threads that mention these things. Perhaps I missed the answers, so that’s why I’m asking them again.
If a Catholic is aware of the Church’s stance on say… homosexuality, condoms, or being pro-choice, but refuses to accept them…are they considered heretics?
Catechism (CCC 2089) defines heresy as “obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same.” It is a mortal sin against the theological virtue of faith. Canon law #751 echoes this definition.
As with many other things, heresy possesses both a particular form and matter (
source). Denial of a teaching of the Church is an instance of
material heresy, that is, possession of the matter of heresy, which is doctrinal or dogmatic error. One who does so knowing that they are denying the teachings of the Church crosses the line into
formal heresy, in which both form and matter are present. The former may simply be error, the latter appears to cross the line into sin.
There are some here who will tell you heresy is nothing more than a canonical status, i.e., a heretic is whomever the Church says is a heretic, so that of course you can believe whatever you want and commit no sin until a Church commission investigates and labels you as such. I have never seen any reason to believe this is true and find no such qualification in either Catechism or canon law. Commission of heresy logically must precede ecclesiastical recognition of one’s status as a heretic, or else such determinations would be arbitrary.
In any event, the simple answer is that you are required to assent to the Church’s teachings on matters of faith and morals because it is protected from error by the Holy Spirit and you aren’t, and withholding of that assent when the conscience is informed is probably sin (whether we call it “heresy” or not isn’t particularly relevant).
